Musical instrument



Jul 22, 1924.

F. J. HEIPPE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 18. 1919 2 SheeLs-Sheel 1 WITNESSES:

. *INVENTOR: 6 Florezwe J ,Hppe, W m fi July 22 1924.

F. J. HEPPE MUS ICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 18 1919 I 2 Sheets-Shegt 2 IIIIIIIII/IIl/llI/ltlll INVENTOR: Florenca J Jippe,

ATTORNEYS;

WITNESSES f/wzA/d Patented July 22, 1924.

UNITED STATES FLORENCE J'. HEPPE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed December 18, 1919. Serial No. 345,786:

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FLORENCE J. Hnrrn, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Musical Instruments, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates more specifically to tone reflectors for musical instruments, such as pianos of all styles and types including grand and upright ones of both ordinary standard forms and player type, and the object of my invention is to provide auxiliary reflecting devices which are independent of the soundin board or the sound producing devices, suc reflecting devices being disposed according to the principles hereinafter set forth.

As will become apparent from subsequent description, my invention is particularly applicable to upright pianos, either of standard form or to those of the automatic player type. Ordinarily such pianos are so constructed, that the volume and tone of the musical vibrations are, for reasons which will be presently explained, greatly reduced, and impaired.

To be more explicit, in its typical form, such a piano usually comprises in addition to the string plate; a sounding board which is located behind said frame, by which forced vibrations are projected; an action by which the strings are vibrated; and in the case of the player type, an intricate playing mechanism. The two latter groups of mechanism occupy positions in front of the string plate within a casing, which is for the most part completely closed at the front so that the audible vibrations of the sounding board must of necessity, come mostly from the back of the instrument. By reason of such construction, a great portion of the sound waves due to the vibrations of the strings and the sounding board are absorbed within the casing.

It is the aim of my invention to use such sound waves and by redirecting them rearwardly to impart greater resonance to the instrument, and to blend them together, to

' the end that the tonal quality of the instrument is improved. This I accomplish by use of one or more reflecting devices which are disposed within the casing of the instr ment, and each of which comprises a concaved reflecting surface whereby these sound waves-are reflected back and forth until redirected toward the sounding board. Referring to the drawings, Fig. I, is a front elevation of an upright player piano, conveniently embodying my invention.

Fig. II, is a cross sectional view of the string plate 6, upon which the strings 7, are

mounted, and directly behind which the usual sounding board 8, is located. IVithin the casing, in the space above the key bed 2, are located the action 9, and the automatic playing mechanism 10, whilst the space below said key bed is occupied for the most part, by the suction creating elements 11., whereby the playing mechanism is actuated.

Disposed at different points within the casing 1. at the sides thereof (as distinguished from the front and the back), are a number of reflecting devices, 12, 13, 14k, 15, 16, 17 and 18. Each of these devices com prises a concaved reflecting surface 19, whose configuration and location is such as to effect the projection of the sound waves rearwardly toward the sounding board 8.

The devices 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, while shown only in dotted lines in Figure I are identical in configuration and concavity to the devices 12 and 13 shown in cross-section in Figure II.

In practice the surface 19, may be constructed of material similar to that of the sounding boardv so as to'be capable of independent vibration, but are preferably constructed of a non-vibratory material capableof reflecting instead of absorbing sound waves. These reflecting devices are braced by a number of transverse ribs 20 and may be secured by means of screws or other equivalent means, to any convenient portion of the piano casing. As will be seen from Fig. I, the reflecting device 12, at the top of the casing extends across the entire width of the instrument. This arrangement is not possible at the bottom of the instrument, on aCCQunt of the space required for the actuating treadles 21, for the player mechanism, and for this reason, separate reflecting devices 13 and 14:, of lesser length have been provided at this-region, one being disposed at each side of the central opening 7 22, through which said treadles operate.

The latter reflecting elements are of the, same general construction as the first described, and attachment in this: case is effected either with'the bottom board 23, of

redirected toward the sounding board, In

this way, instead of being absorbed Within thecasing, such waves that is, both, those originating from, string vibrations and those reflected from the reflecting, devices are blended, one with another with the result that the general resonant quality of the instrument is improved. 7

The reflectors are made so as to be nonvibratory to a mimium extent and to reflect sound waves to, a maximum extent. The manner in which a reflector is made to accomplish this object will depend upon the nature of the materials employed and the principles of construction should be selected, with a' view to making the reflector as rigid as possible, avoiding'thin parts or resilient portions which may have a tendency to vibrate. 'A wooden panel may be used as a reflecting surface'provided it is suitably backed up and solidly mounted so as to reduce vibrational tendencies to a minimum; Any metalwhich is relatively non-resilient may be employed among which metals may be included lead, andif this material is used it should be in the form of thin sheets to avoid the addition of weight.

It ispoint-ed out that by reason of the curvature of the reflecting devices the latter may be designed to afford a maximum area of reflecting surface and at the same time be contained within the narrow and limited confines of the instrument casing.

The present invention does not necessarily contemplate the concentration of reflected sound waves upon any definite locality of the musical instrumenflnor to secure a reflection of sound waves to such an extent that the" reflected character of any sound Waves could be detected by ear; The object, however, is to secure reflection of sound waves to some, extent and the degree of reflection obtainedby the apparatus described is sufficient to cause a blending of sound waves within the instrument and a concen-' tration of the sound waves toward the rear of they instrument so, that the resonant qualrangements shown are, however, the bestat present known to me. i Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Ina piano the combination with a casing, a string frame therein, and a soundingboard to, therear of said string frame, of V a plurality of concave reflectors of minimum vibratory character disposed around the sides, top and bottom oft-he casing, said reflectors having their reflecting surfaces directed toward" the string frame for reflectingsound waves back toward the sounding, board. t I

2. In a piano the combination with a casing, a string frame therein, and a sounding board to the rear of said string frame, of a concavereflector of minimum vibratory character in said casing atone side thereof, with its axis of curvature extending parallelto the sounding-board and its reflecting surface directed generally'toward the'string frame, and-transverse bracing ribs supporting the curved surface of saidreflector and securing it to the casing.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto V signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsyh vania, this sixteenth day of December, 1919.

FLORENCE J. HEPPFM Witnesses JAMES BELL, E. L. FULLERTON. 

